Of course the airline was in the right. Your kid may be Queen of the World in your home and in your lives, but she is NOT the Queen of the World to anyone beyond that.

Good luck to those parents - their darling girl won't be so darling anymore when she's 13 years old, completely defiant, and refuses any discipline. That's what's happening with my husband's niece and it is not pleasant for anyone.

"We weren't given an opportunity to hold her, console her or anything," Julie Kulesza said in a telephone interview Tuesday.

So the rest of world has to stand still while you "console" your little nightmare? In other words, she just wanted time to do breathing excercises and go "Sweetie. Sweetie. Sweetie. Now, Elly, Sweetie. Let's sit down Sweetie. Sweetie. Sweetie. Sweetie." for 30 more minutes.

"We weren't given an opportunity to hold her, console her or anything," Julie Kulesza said in a telephone interview Tuesday.

Um... BS, lady.

They'd already delayed the flight 15 minutes. Did they really expect the airline to inconvenience 100 other people because they couldn't control their own child? Sorry, no. That's not how the world works.

Personally, I don't think the airline should have given them the extra round-trip tickets. Reimburse them for the flight, sure. But that's it. Rewarding bad behavior in adults is just as bad as rewarding it in children![/quote]

2b copper penny red"While the rest of the species is descended from apes, redheads are descended from cats."

"We weren't given an opportunity to hold her, console her or anything," Julie Kulesza said in a telephone interview Tuesday.

So the rest of world has to stand still while you "console" your little nightmare? In other words, she just wanted time to do breathing excercises and go "Sweetie. Sweetie. Sweetie. Now, Elly, Sweetie. Let's sit down Sweetie. Sweetie. Sweetie. Sweetie." for 30 more minutes.

I think the father's declaration that they will not fly AirTran again will send ticket sales through the roof!

Following what PH wrote, I don't know where or why some parents have the idea that the rest of the world has to be subjected to the rantings, ravings, and bad behavior of their kids. Sure, kids are going to act up at times and sometimes - despite their best efforts- parents are at a loss for what to do. What bothers me is what seems to be a total lack of regard for the rest of society. Refuse to discipline your kids at your own peril, but don't expect the rest of us to indulge them - and you- similarly.

The first lesson of economics is scarcity: There is never enough of anything to satisfy all those who want it. The first lesson of politics is to disregard the first lesson of economics - Thomas Sowell

While I'm not defending the parents or picking on this specific airline, I will add something from flying with my daughter. Airlines used to let you pre-board with children when they boarded the people that needed a little more time to get settled. They won't let you do that anymore. Children don't herd well. It isn't something that we're born knowing how to do but something that is learned in group settings and it is disconcerting to children when they are herded onto the plane. I've flown first class with my daughter since they've changed this procedure and feel sorry for the parents who can't afford to do this and have to board with children on a sold out or over booked flight. It's stressful all the way around and to me flying now is just not a pleasant experience. I used to love to fly but now the airline personnel are so snippy and rude that I wish I had another way to travel that was as quick. I know quite a few people who have cut their flying in more than half and it isn't because of 911, it's mainly because of the attitude of the airlines. We, personally, planned vacations for the last two years so that we could avoid flying. I do, however, still have to fly to go to the East Coast for business and to visit relatives but I rue it.

Just my 2 cents, I obviously wasn't on the plane but based on the airline's generosity they seem to feel at least partially responsible if not liable too.

While I'm not defending the parents or picking on this specific airline, I will add something from flying with my daughter. Airlines used to let you pre-board with children when they boarded the people that needed a little more time to get settled. They won't let you do that anymore. Children don't herd well. It isn't something that we're born knowing how to do but something that is learned in group settings and it is disconcerting to children when they are herded onto the plane. I've flown first class with my daughter since they've changed this procedure and feel sorry for the parents who can't afford to do this and have to board with children on a sold out or over booked flight. It's stressful all the way around and to me flying now is just not a pleasant experience. I used to love to fly but now the airline personnel are so snippy and rude that I wish I had another way to travel that was as quick. I know quite a few people who have cut their flying in more than half and it isn't because of 911, it's mainly because of the attitude of the airlines. We, personally, planned vacations for the last two years so that we could avoid flying. I do, however, still have to fly to go to the East Coast for business and to visit relatives but I rue it.

Just my 2 cents, I obviously wasn't on the plane but based on the airline's generosity they seem to feel at least partially responsible if not liable too.

Originally Posted by macluan

What airline do you fly? I fly fairly often and it seems like they still always let families with small children pre-board.

It's happened on United, American, US Air and Delta. I've called the airlines and they said they've changed their policies. Sometimes they will still let you pre-board but you're at the mercy of the flight crew. I was shocked the first time it happened because it was the second flight we had been on in one day and the first flight they allowed pre-boarding and the second they didn't, stating policy.

While I'm not defending the parents or picking on this specific airline, I will add something from flying with my daughter. Airlines used to let you pre-board with children when they boarded the people that needed a little more time to get settled. They won't let you do that anymore. Children don't herd well. It isn't something that we're born knowing how to do but something that is learned in group settings and it is disconcerting to children when they are herded onto the plane. I've flown first class with my daughter since they've changed this procedure and feel sorry for the parents who can't afford to do this and have to board with children on a sold out or over booked flight. It's stressful all the way around and to me flying now is just not a pleasant experience. I used to love to fly but now the airline personnel are so snippy and rude that I wish I had another way to travel that was as quick. I know quite a few people who have cut their flying in more than half and it isn't because of 911, it's mainly because of the attitude of the airlines. We, personally, planned vacations for the last two years so that we could avoid flying. I do, however, still have to fly to go to the East Coast for business and to visit relatives but I rue it.

Just my 2 cents, I obviously wasn't on the plane but based on the airline's generosity they seem to feel at least partially responsible if not liable too.

Originally Posted by macluan

The airline I work for DOES still allow preboarding for passengers with children.

It's happened on United, American, US Air and Delta. I've called the airlines and they said they've changed their policies. Sometimes they will still let you pre-board but you're at the mercy of the flight crew. I was shocked the first time it happened because it was the second flight we had been on in one day and the first flight they allowed pre-boarding and the second they didn't, stating policy.

Originally Posted by macluan

If a parent knows that preboarding will make it easier for them to get a small child settled in, why would the airline not allow that? Do they want to have to deal with upset toddlers?

I guess I've either just gotten flight crews that all still do preboarding, or haven't noticed the times that they didn't do it.

American tried not to let me pre-board when traveling alone with my infant son last year. After I had a nice talk with the desk worker using my mean voice, we were allowed to pre-board. I believe my husband also called customer service to tell them some nasty things. On our return trip, we had no problems. I asked and was instantly allowed to pre-board. I haven't had any problems traveling Delta in the last year. They actually helped me board. I flew Southwest about a week before he was born and they were allowing passengers with small children to pre-board as well.

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -- Theodor Seuss Geisel

Believe me, as a practicing CPA for almost 20 years I understand the different voices. I tried being nice, then a tad more assertive, then stern, etc. you get the picture. I've had some crews let me do it but it's not policy anymore and they can and do say no. I don't want it to be at their leave. If you search on the internet child and airline preboarding there are probably tons of hits because I'm not the only person that this has happened to more than once. I've written letters to the airlines, called customer service, etc. the only real solution I've found that works for me right now is to fly first class. We live on the West Coast and my daughter's grandparents live on the East Coast and now she pretty much hates to fly. She behaves wonderfully. I keep her well occupied. She's been flying since she was very small and used to really enjoy it. Now she gets stressed when we have to fly. What fun!